bonafidebrother

Oh! A cart'd be even better. Right, Chichiri?

Kweh!

And... I'm glad it didn't hurt much, for you. [ It would have been so bad, wouldn't it, if it hurt that much every time? ] But I think we can work on not being numb, then. Find things that make it not so.

Though I can guarantee, hurting and being upset is not the only way to not be numb. So don't limit yourself.

[ Izana has definitely bounced up from the first crash with the news, with seeing Machina. Because...

Well. Because maybe there's somebody who needs him, and putting a smile on his face and keeping on going is the right thing to do, at such times. ]

You're not allowed to lift him. [Very pointedly to Izana.] We can get other people to help with that.

[Machina will really kill him if he causes Izana to hurt himself further.]

We always knew we were different from other cadets. Even before becoming Class Zero. [It would have been terrible - though Ace doesn't think it would have stopped them from doing it.] Okay.

[He nods. Life isn't just about being hurt or upset, it's about being happy too.

Laughing and being with people he cares about. Even if Machina would prefer that he didn't.

Yeah. I know I'm not. I want to help, though - I guess helping balance him or something. [ Yeah, okay, maybe this was a little dumb. Izana rubs a hand over his face, then tries to smile again. ]

Let's get him back to the house, then. And then you get dibs on the first hot shower.

[ ... he can try. ]

Good. [He doesn't want to die yet.] You can hook up Chichiri to the cart. I've only saddled chocobos for single person riders.

[Ace will watch how Izana does it so he can do it in the future.]

Okay. [Time to do this.]

Yeah, I can definitely do that.

[ It takes Izana a few moments of examining the cart's gear, before he maneuvers Chichiri just so, and his fingers start working on what's available, tugging on and tightening straps and buckles, to make sure that it won't get loose. Chichiri's tack is not meant exactly for this, but he can make it work. ]

There, I think that should be good.

[ Chichiri herself is not happy with this, but she knows that it's a one-time thing. ]

[Ace watches as Izana hooks Chichiri up to the cart, petting her neck as it's all happening.]

Sorry Chichiri. It'll be over soon.

[Next time he'll ask to borrow someone's wyvern instead. If he didn't think the crystallized forms were heavy, they'd do this differently.]

[ Izana shivers at those words, but he just focuses on what he can do.

Holding Chichiri still while Machina is loaded, and then later unloaded. Helping settle the crystal in their room. Thanking everyone who helped. Then he's back downstairs, trying for a tentative smile at Ace. ]

Thank you. I'll go get Chichiri back to the stable, then come back to see what the other two birds need.

[ Have you even met Kotomi, Ace... ]

[He stands awkwardly in the house, unsure of his presence here. It seems like they live with a lot of other people - none of which Ace knows.]

Okay.

[Not officially but Ace did hear about Chichiri the duck and Kotomi.]

[ Izana squints a little at Ace. ]

Want to go up get a hot shower? We, ah, got a little drenched back there.

[A single shoulder rises a bit.]

Just a towel would be fine.

[Though Ace does move to take off his cloak so it stops dripping everywhere.]

Right. This way.

[ The month is cool enough that Izana doesn't even hesitate in setting the temperature a bit high in the room. Kotomi is usually under a special heating light, anyway. ]

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